John and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1882

26 B y A LIGHT BLUB CAPTAIN. \ rriHERE TS GROUND FOR SATISFACTION to those who ave 1 interested in County Cricket, in the fact that the season of 1881 has once more shifted the balance of power, and that the supremacy which appeared at one time lobe almost the monopolised possession of N otts has now fallen into the hands of L ancashire . There would indeed be reason to suspect that the competition is not so keen as it should be, if there were not considerable variation in the result of that, conn petition, and it would also point no satisfactory moral were exertions so strenuous; and so continued as those which have supported L ancashire to have remained barren of the fruits of the highest success. There is, indeed, written on the roll of matches played by that County an aston. isliinglistof victories, and without doubt the highest contribution to those achievements has been made by Mr. A. N. H ornby . At all times a most spirited and encouraging captain, in 1881 there was added to his usual keenness the strong stimulus—hardly to be appreciated by those who have not experienced it—which is aroused by the consciousness of leading an undefeated army. Those who recollect the seasons of 1878 and 1870, will recall the effect of this consciousness on the C ambridge Elevens of those years. And its presence was evident in 1881 in the L ancashire leader. For not only did it infuse, if it is possible, a more determined spirit into his captaincy, but it completely changed tae character of Mr. H ornby ’ s batting. Those who saw the prudence and care with which at the Old Trafford ground he treated the accurate deliveries of his old comrade in arms, Mr. A. J. W ebbe , rubbed their eyes and won­ dered if it was the same batsman from whom, when not playing for L ancashire , no bowler is exempt from most summary treatment. It has always been evident to good judges that it is hardly possible to find a more formidable batsman than Mr, H ornby when lie is in cautious mood. For his caution never extends to balls which can be hit with any begin­ ning o f certainty, and it therefore merely adds a fine defence to great punishing powers. Unquestionably, therefore, in the annals of County Cricket Mr. H ornby ’ s career in 1881 deserves rank in the same class with the performances of Mr. W. G. G race , P ait , T. H ayward , and C arpenter for their resjiective counties in their best days. Hardly Jess remarkable, though extending over a smaller area, were the services rendered by Mr. A. G. S teel . Owing to the fine weather which prevailed throughout the first three months of the season, the wickets were much against slow howling. This fact, combined with the great opportunities for studying his many arts, put first-class batsmen at one time in 1881 on better terms with Mr. S teel than they have usually been; but the wet weather of August placed many a gifted cricketer in